Research Fellow in Biological Mass Spectrometry

This is full time, fixed term role.

Closing date: 23:59 on 15^th August 2026

Interview date: TBC. The interview process will include providing a sole-author written scientific output such as a report, thesis or article and preparation of a short presentation.

We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Postdoctoral Researcher to join the Cramer Lab for a prestigious project funded by the Royal Society’s Paul Instrument Fund. This is a unique opportunity to lead the development of a next-generation ion source for native mass spectrometry (MS) using Liquid AP (LAP)-MALDI.

The Role

Building on our established success with UV-based LAP-MALDI, this project aims to revolutionize native-like analysis by exploiting the natural infrared (IR) absorption of aqueous systems. Your work will focus on the setup, optimization, and application of a novel IR laser-based LAP-MALDI source.

You will be working with a dedicated Q-TOF mass spectrometer (under full service contract) to analyze a diverse range of biomolecular analytes, including peptides, proteins, and protein conjugates.

Key Responsibilities:

• Instrumentation: Leading the hardware setup and optimization of the IR-LAP-MALDI ion source.
• Experimental Design: Developing protocols for native MS and comparing performance against current UV-LAP-MALDI MS benchmarks.
• Lab Operations: Managing biological sample preparation, instrument maintenance, and complex MS analyses.
• Data & Dissemination: Conducting advanced data mining and analysis, and authoring high-impact scientific publications.

About You

The ideal candidate will be an experienced researcher with a strong background in biological mass spectrometry and a penchant for instrumentation development.

Essential Requirements:

• PhD or equivalent qualification in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Physics or a related analytical science.
• Proven expertise in Biological Mass Spectrometry.
• Familiar with Laser-based Ionisation Sources.
• Technical proficiency in hardware optimisation and instrument troubleshooting.
• Ability to work consistently on-site at our Whiteknights Campus.

What We Offer

• Duration: Full-time, fixed-term contract for up to 14 months.
• Flexibility: We support work-life balance and will consider part-time arrangements (minimum 0.6 FTE) on a pro-rata basis.
• Environment: Based at our award-winning Whiteknights Campus, you will join a collaborative and well-funded research group at the forefront of MS technology.

Join a team dedicated to pushing the boundaries of (bio)analytical chemistry. If you are ready to contribute to a high-profile project supported by the Royal Society, we invite you to apply.

Contact details for advert: Rainer Cramer, Professor, r.k.cramer@reading.ac.uk

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